This Season’s Power Gift: Encouragement

bigstock-Be-The-Reason-Someone-Smiles-T-77761325This Season’s Power Gift: Encouragement

In this busy holiday season, I have a secret to help you not just get through it, but to bring joy wherever you go: by God’s power of love through encouragement.

Jesus loved through encouragement
I studied in the Bible how Jesus interacted with non-religious people and found that he was very supportive and encouraging.  In fact, Jesus did not get down on regular people at all. Let’s take a look at how Jesus modeled love through the power of encouragement.

Just one positive thing
When Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman at a well in John 4, he accurately told her about herself. While they talked, she openly shared with Jesus the truth:  she was not married. And how did Jesus take it? Here’s the text:

“I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” John 4:17-18

The Samaritan woman and Jesus had a heart-to-heart discussion that opened the door for Jesus to either condemn her or encourage her. What did he do? Jesus called her honest. He is always looking for and finding the positive in people.

As a result, the woman’s response was “Sir, I can see you are a prophet.” He won over her heart by finding one positive thing about her: honesty. That one word of encouragement, plus the other truths Jesus explained to her, made her so encouraged that she had to tell the people in her town! Encouragement is contagious.

There are many examples where Jesus encourages people, highlighting the positive in a dark world. Love is so powerful when paired with encouragement.

Focus on the positive
Finding the positive in everything and everyone changes your life, making it increasingly positive. This is a powerful principle that will change the spiritual atmosphere all around you.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthythink about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

Your challenge: find just one positive thing – that’s all
I am challenging you to be an encourager by finding just one positive thing in a difficult situation. You may find more than one, but starting with one will open the way to love others.

People will be drawn to you because you are a positive influence, full of optimism, hope, and encouragement. When people feel safe, they will open up and trust you. Plus, when you love through encouraging others, you will find a deeper level of God’s grace on your own life.

Enjoy this season’s opportunities to encourage and love! I hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Blessings,

doug-sig

Doug Addison

Doug Addison is the founder and President of InLight Connection. Doug is a prophetic speaker, author and coach. He is known for his Daily Prophetic Words, Spirit Connection webcast, podcast, and blog. He and his wife Linda live in Los Angeles, California where he is impacting the arts, entertainment and media industries.

Doug Addison

Doug Addison is the founder and president of InLight Connection. Doug is a prophetic speaker, author and coach. He is best known for his Daily Prophetic Words and Spirit Connection podcast and blog. Doug’s message of love, hope and acceptance reaches people around the world! His powerful, lighthearted style of teaching and coaching helps open people to discover their spiritual identity and personal destiny as they experience God’s supernatural love and power. He and his wife Linda live in Los Angeles, California where they are impacting the arts and entertainment and media industries.

Enjoy this content? Share on your favorite platform:

    • Thea
    • December 29, 2014
    Reply

    Such a powerful word! Sometimes it’s the simple things that can make the biggest impact on people’s lives. It can become overwhelming when you want to do so much to make a difference, that you get stuck in analysis paralysis. Yet, you’re right – just focusing on being an encouragement to others (finding ONE thing to focus on) is often enough to make a difference in someone’s life. This reminds me to reread Dale Carnegie’s book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” again, thanks!

    • Jennifer
    • December 29, 2014
    Reply

    You have been a huge blessing to me over the last year. My husband and I are coming out of a 2 1/2 year season of great difficulty and you have consistently ministered encouragement to us that has been an infusion of fresh air, bright light and hope. I have found myself hanging on to and rereading your monthly and daily words because through these vehicles, God was reaching into me and pulling me up to a place of hope when I desperately NEEDED hope. Thank you for being light and life with the DNA of heaven coming through your pen! God bless you and your wife and may He EXPAND your territory in 2015!

    • Rachel M
    • December 26, 2014
    Reply

    Amen. Thanks Doug. Deeply profound truth and reminder.
    Interesting that even when rebuking the churches in Revelation and pointing out what they were lacking, the Lord Jesus began by mentioning what they were doing right, before telling them each what they needed to change or stop doing in order to retain their place and crown.
    Blessed Christmas to you and family. You have been a great blessing in my life in 2014 since I came across your blog. Thank you.

      • Richard Nolan
      • December 27, 2014
      Reply

      What a valuable word for the Body of Christ. If we would do this one thing, we would unite the Body and change the world.
      One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 15:19
      Therefore, thus says the Lord, “If you return, then I will restore you–Before Me you will stand; And if you extract the precious from the worthless. You will become My spokesman. They for their part may turn to you. But as for you, you must not turn to them. (Verses 20 & 21 encouraging!)

    • Judith Shingler
    • December 26, 2014
    Reply

    Thank you Doug. Not sure how you ended up on my fb page but glad you did. Working with some very downtrodden people in a stressful secular situation this will prove helpful advice!

    • Angeline
    • December 25, 2014
    Reply

    Merry Christmas Doug and Linda. Thank you for sharing the power gift of encouragement. I have been blessed by your daily prophetic words and your ministry
    You are such an encouragement to me and my family.

    • Angeline
    • December 25, 2014
    Reply

    Merry Christmas Doug and Linda. Thank you for sharing the power gift of encouragement. I have blessed by your daily prophetic words and ministry. You
    are such an encouragement to me and my family.

    • Christy
    • December 25, 2014
    Reply

    Thank you Doug !! You are the BIGGEST encourager I know!! Such a huge heart of Jesus within you Merry Christmas to you and your lovely wife Linda ! 2015 has got AMAZING RICHNESS in this next year for the both of you GOD BLESS YOU GUYS

    • Paulette Richardson
    • December 25, 2014
    Reply

    Thank you as always for your words of encouragement! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!

    • Denise
    • December 25, 2014
    Reply

    Merry Christmas to you and yours Doug!!!!! Thank you for sharing the truth about being positive. It sure does make life alot easier. We really do reep what we sow! I want to thank you for all of the ministry to the body of Christ you give over and over and over! I have truly been blessed by your life, prophetic words, and powerful REAL ministry. You always give me hope for my future. Blessings!

    • Gail Stoddard
    • December 25, 2014
    Reply

    Thank you Doug, Merry Christmas! Great word of encouragement! Looking Forward!

    • paul
    • December 25, 2014
    Reply

    Thanks Doug for this encouraging word on encouragement….my dad and I don’t have the best relationship… I’m going to try this encourage approach to with him… please pray for both him and me… his name is patrick

    • Meg Nelson
    • December 25, 2014
    Reply

    Very nice post. To always find something positive will make everyone happy. Thanks. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Reply to Richard Nolan. cancel

Top
Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial